Before the start of last season, not many would have kept Stoke City as one of the relegation contenders but the Potters went down after a season to forget in the top flight. They have now handed over the club’s mantle to Gary Rowett who helped Derby County qualify for the Championship playoffs last season. The Potters will be hoping for the same and much more from the English manager.
After going down to the Championship, a team loses some of their star players and the same is expected to happen with Stoke City as well. They have already lost their talismanic winger Xherdan Shaqiri to Liverpool and the club will probably see some further departures. Signing new players in the transfer market will be important and Rowett has done just that as they are close to securing the deal for Huddersfield Town winger Tom Ince.
Reports suggest that Ince is set for a medical ahead of his £10m move and one can expect an official announcement to be made soon. Ince has a good amount of experience in the Championship and has played under Rowett before at Derby County. Ince had joined the Terriers last season only but they didn’t have any qualms in selling him after just one season.
The Englishman has a good scoring record in the Championship as he has scored 68 goals and assisted a further 44. Last season in the top flight, he made 37 appearances in all competitions and managed a tally of 3 goals. He might not have provided with lots of goals but was a crucial player in Wagner’s side. Ince worked hard in defence as well, as Huddersfield played quite a lot of their games without much possession.
The Potters will have a proven player at their disposal and Ince will likely be used as a replacement for Shaqiri. The 26-year-old can play in various positions upfront so that will be an added advantage for Gary Rowett.
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Ince is already quite experienced for his age. He is a perfect blend of youth plus experience and can be an important player for Stoke City as they look to bounce back into the Premier League. The Englishman is known for his pace and dribbling skills but over the years, he has displayed that he can score important goals for his side. All in all, it’s a decent bet from Rowett as Ince is a proven player in the Championship.
